Chains of Love | Goodies First

Aug 3

Chain Links: Broasted Chicken

“Mucho Burrito provides customers with fresh and authentic Mexican food in a contemporary and casual setting.” It’s also Canadian and spreading to Oman. Now the Middle East will be able to experience taco salads served in fried tortilla bowls. The parent company, Extreme Brandz, will also be exporting their Extreme Pita and Pur Blendz concepts. Hopefully, Oman residents won’t get the idea that all North Americans substitute Z’s for S’s. [Fast Casual]

It’s not often you hear about a Malaysian chain coming to the U.S. I would love to try SugarBun, but sadly it’s opening in Quincy, Missouri. The bizarre thing about their wide-ranging menu is that they serve “broasted” chicken, which I thought was an Oregon anomaly (it’s not). [The Star].

I’ve been to Singapore third times now, and every time I debate whether I should try the Hooters. Maybe next time. My (semi) point being that Hooters isn’t new to Asia. Now, they are bringing wings and tight tank tops to Turkey, India and Japan. [WSJ]

T.G.I. Friday’s is on a “Ambition 2015” bender that involves “expanding the brand to nearly 1,100 locations in more than 60 countries” by that date. [Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal]

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Aug 2

The Opposite of Hospitaliano

Today, I’ve seen a few mentions of the guy who called and menaced a Wendy’s after robbing them because he wasn’t happy with the sum they had on hand.

As far as ballsy and stupid, I kind of prefer the man who met a woman in an Olive Garden parking lot (sounds more like a casual encounter than a legitimate date, though I know little about the mating rituals in Fort Walton Beach, Florida) only to rob her and spend the money in the Olive Garden.

She claims it was $90, he says $50. Either way, that’s a lot of breadsticks.

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Jul 27

The Bee’s Knees

I didn't sense a large chain restaurant presence at Tales of the Cocktail. In fact, the only one that seemed to participating in any of the programs was Bonefish Grill. Fortuitous, because they are one of my favorites.

"Bonefish Grill’s Search for the Best Cocktail Featuring a New Spirit" wasn't really for the public (I did poke my head in) or for the average bartender (I just can't say mixologist). The competition was for liquor brands that had been launched within the past year to come up with a cocktail to be featured on Bonefish's menu.

And that's the twisted thing about my relationship to Bonefish Grill. Highly suburban, the seafood chain (whose nearest location, Secaucus, is eight miles from my apartment—I prefer to drive the 17 miles to Iselin) "invites guests to enjoy a 'big city bar' in their own backyards."

Yet, I live a short subway ride away from Manhattan's cocktail heavy hitters like this year's best cocktail bar in the country, Death & Co., and walking distance to Clover Club (also a nominee). There is no shortage of $12+ beverages using herbs, tinctures and homemade bitters in my environs.

The weekend before last, I took advantage of my free Bang Bang Shrimp birthday gift card in East Brunswick and was looking forward to some of their oddly priced $6.90 cocktails. I wouldn't necessarily call a list of martinis, all but one of the 12 sweet and/or fruity, "big city," though. Second-tier city?

I do see what they're going for. My Bee's Knees Martini was flavored with honey and lemon juice and garnished with a basil leaf. They'd only need to lose the martini glass and swap gin for the vodka to get something more appropriately old-timey and historic. But of course, fedoras, moustaches and suspenders aren't exactly de rigueur in Witchita or Boise (at least I hope not). Bonefish states that they are "blending our country's rich cocktail history with inventive, modern twists." They know their audience.

Square One Botanical Spirit, a vodka made from organic American rye and infused with "pear, rose, chamomile, lemon verbena, lavender, rosemary, coriander and citrus peel," won their sponsored contest. The winning cocktail, however, wasn't announced. I'd love to know what it is and I'd order one even though it will likely be sweet and fruity.

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Jul 14

Chain Links: Jack Daniel’s Chanterelles & Summer Squash

Despite the new Manhattan T.G.I. Friday's already having been open for a few weeks, tomorrow they will host an official ribbon cutting. Also this: "In a nod to the Union Square community and environment, they are also anticipating purchasing various items for seasonal specials from the green market." As long as this seasonal produce is encased in melted cheese, I'm ok with this uncharacteristic move. [press release]

A KFC is opened in China almost every single day. I have eaten at one. [CNN]

That hideous sounding McDonald's strawberry-banana smoothie could reinvigorate the entire smoothie market. [WSJ]

DeMarco's didn’t fare so well in the West Village, but that doesn't mean Dominick DeMarco Jr., son of the Di Fara's master won't try another venture. Dom DeMarco’s Pizzeria & Bar will open this year in Las Vegas, then onto Arizona, Texas and California. [New York Post]

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Jul 13

Fast Food International: Tim Hortons

What kind of doughnut shop runs out of doughnuts? My favorite (ok, only) Canadian doughnut chain has been mangled by NYC. It’s for the best that we don’t get a St-Hubert. We’d just sully the brand.

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Jul 12

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Sunday, a Taco Bell opened in Seoul, and lines were down the block. I had no idea Koreans were so fond of Ameri-Mex fast food. The core menu doesn’t appear to deviate from ours, meaning no Kogi-esque kalbi tacos or kimchi quesadillas. At least they didn’t have to provide a food glossary like in India.

Photo from Chris in South Korea.

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Jul 10

Smooth Operators

McDonald’s has been marketing to minorities, figuring out their tastes and preferences. All well and good, but what does this vague statement mean?

“The fruit combinations in McDonald's latest smoothies, for instance, reflect taste preferences in minority communities.”

As long as they don’t mean strawberry-banana, the foulest ‘80s yogurt flavor combo ever, I’m ok with this.

Update: Oh hell, I was just kidding, but yes, strawberry-banana is, indeed, one of the new smoothie flavors. Would this be the handiwork of blacks, Asians or Latinos?

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Jul 10

Chain Links: Mai Tai Masala

It was a sad day when Wendy’s called it quits in Japan. But Frostys and baked potatoes might be coming back—this time with Beef ‘n Cheddars in tow. A hybrid Wendy’s/Arby’s monster is attempting to re-enter Japan. [Nation’s Restaurant News]

I’ve never understood the appeal of cold cereal, but The Cereal Bowl, has made a business out of selling sweet crunchy things in milk to Americans. Now, they’re expanding to Puerto Rico. A location in Qatar opened earlier this year. [QSR]

Trader Vic’s has always been odd in modern times. They don’t have many US restaurants any more (I finally tried the Chicago branch this New Year’s Eve) but thrive in hotels in Asian capitals—Bangkok, Taipei, Tokyo—where you wouldn’t think they’d have much of a taste for American mid-century Polynesia kitsch. There are a whopping nine Trader Vic’s in the Middle East, and now India and Sri Lanka will be getting mai tais and crab rangoon, too. Wow, they're going nuts with expansion, and in some of the most random locales. [Food Business Review]

Photo from Cookbook Village.

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Jul 7

What Do You Call a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Finland?

A deadly gun battle involving an SUV in a McDonald's drive-through and it didn't take place in America? I must brush up on my Finnish culture because I thought Scandinavia was a happiest-people-on-the-planet utopia where both genders get 20 years paid time off to raise their children and the unemployed are granted vacation stipends because being jobless is stressful (ok, the latter is true).

Ah, it seems that Finland is Nordic, not part of Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway, Sweden). That must explain it. I base all my decisions on random internet comments, and I like this one: "by genetic finnish people are closer to eastern world, as we are relative to estonian people. we do have same strenght and melancholic mind."

Strong and sad, a cursed combo.

By the way, in Finland a Quarter Pounder with Cheese is called a Quarter Pounder with Cheese.

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Jul 6